New Year's Retreat

New Year's Retreat is a seven-night yoga retreat at Xinalani, an oceanfront retreat center in Quimixto, Jalisco, Mexico, just south of Puerto Vallarta. It is open to all levels and is set over the turn of the year, between the jungle and the Pacific Ocean. It suits anyone who would rather see the year out with practice, rest and good food than with a crowded party.

The retreat is a yoga week built around rest and restoration, with a community of other guests who came for similar reasons. The classes draw on mixed-style yoga and vinyasa flow, with themes of strength and movement, rest and restore, and growth and healing.

What to Expect

Each retreat at Xinalani has its own rhythm, but days generally unfold between practice, meals, time by the ocean and space to simply be. The center describes a typical day like this:

- 8 AM: all-levels morning yoga by the ocean.
- 10 AM: breakfast of fresh tropical fruit, homemade pastries, Mexican favorites and lighter options.
- 12 PM: free time to swim, rest by the pool, visit the wellness area or book a massage.
- 2 PM: lunch of fresh, seasonal dishes on the oceanfront terrace.
- 5 PM: a slower session, such as restorative yoga, meditation, cacao or another mindful practice.
- 7 PM: sunset over Banderas Bay, then dinner of local cuisine and homemade desserts.

The aim is to give your practice the time and attention it rarely gets at home, while the center takes care of the stay, the meals and the details. Beyond the mat, guests can explore wellness experiences, ocean adventures and the surrounding nature.

The Setting

Xinalani sits on the coast south of Puerto Vallarta, where the jungle meets the sea. Rooms are designed for rest and a closer connection to the landscape, and you wake to ocean views and fall asleep to the sounds of nature. There are four room categories:

- Beach Casita: the most spacious and private option, steps from the beach, with a king bed, private terrace, plunge pool and air conditioning.
- Eco Chic Treehouse: the signature open-air stay, perched above the jungle, with a king bed or two double beds, a private terrace with hammock, and air-conditioned or open-air options.
- Deluxe Room: a cozy private room with a king bed or two twin beds, a terrace with a small hammock, and air-conditioned or open-air options. It suits couples and solo travelers.
- Small and Big Palapa: open-air shared palapas with four or eight individual beds and a private terrace, the most accessible way to stay.

Meals are prepared fresh and served throughout the day, with the terrace lunch and sunset dinner among the daily fixtures.

Before You Go

The retreat is open to all levels, so you do not need an established yoga practice to take part. Stays run seven nights. Because rooms range from air-conditioned to open-air and from private to shared, it is worth choosing the category that matches how you like to rest, whether that is a private terrace with a plunge pool or a shared palapa among fellow guests.